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Getting Started
Whether you have a postage stamp garden or a 5-acre field there is always something to be done to improve our native flora &amp; fauna ‘s chances for survival and getting a good head start for spring. Winter is as good a time as any to get stuck in.
There’s a lot of information out there and it’s a case of sifting through it to find what’s really relevant and gives a full picture.
I’m no expert and all the information that I’m giving is through my own experiences and observations of starting a garden on a blank 4-acre field back in 2004.
<div id="attachment_2828" style="width: 324px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2828" class=" wp-image-2828" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/P1040689-300x225.jpg" alt="Garden 2013" width="314" height="236" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/P1040689-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/P1040689-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/P1040689-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/P1040689-510x382.jpg 510w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/P1040689-1080x810.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 314px) 100vw, 314px" />New Hydrangea bed 2013</div>
Some of my recommendations will require a little investment of time and/or purchasing a shrub, plant or tree.
Others can give instant gratification and pleasure.
For instance, with Christmas fast approaching this could be a great time to get your spring garden off to a productive start. Good garden centres will have a stock of early spring bulbs already potted up which make lovely gifts and can then be transplanted into the garden to flower and provide a food source in subsequent years.
There are a few things to note though, while all the modern hybridization and engineering has produced bigger blooms in a myriad of colours this has been at the expense of nectar and pollen rendering them useless as a food source and especially modern pansies, polyanthus that are nothing more than floral deserts. These modern varieties are bred solely for humans and have no place in a wildlife friendly garden.
<div id="attachment_2829" style="width: 394px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2829" class=" wp-image-2829" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_0144-300x169.jpg" alt="Hellebore Argutifolius" width="384" height="216" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_0144-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_0144-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_0144-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_0144-1080x608.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" />Helleborus argutifolius Corsican hellebore</div>
If you’re looking for something a little more substantial and would like some evergreen winter colour and fragrance, then look no further than Mahonia. I can’t sing their praises enough, they are magnificently architectural, will tolerate shade, winter flowering, low maintenance and produces pollen and nectar in abundance. It provides a vital food source for honeybees if temperatures are warm enough, hoverflies, bumblebees especially Bombus terrestris who remain active here on the farm during winter. As a bonus from the pollination, they are dripping in edible miniature black grapes in early spring which I do leave to the birds, a firm favourite with my blackbirds.
There is a mahonia to suit most gardens from low growing varieties to tall shrubs reaching 15ft.
<div id="attachment_2830" style="width: 353px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2830" class=" wp-image-2830" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-300x201.jpg" alt="Bumblebee lucorum Queen on Mahonia December 3rd 2019" width="343" height="230" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-300x201.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-768x515.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-1024x686.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730.jpg 1031w" sizes="(max-width: 343px) 100vw, 343px" />Bumblebee Queen Bombus leucorum feasting on Mahonia December 3rd 2019</div>
Winter heather Erica carnea is another must-have plant and if you have room plant a swathe of them as bees like to move from flower to flower. If you have a large garden then I would suggest several clusters of 5 to 7 plants in each. Heather needs a reasonably rich soil that is moisture retentive and full sun, it also prefers acidic soil. While it takes a few years, they will make a wonderful ground cover carpet and another vital food source producing pollen and nectar for early emerging pollinators. They begin flowers as early as October and will go right through to April. These can be inter-planted with taller early spring bulbs like Fritillaria meleagris the snakes head fritillary, a bumblebee beacon!! With snowdrops, crocus and winter aconites around the edges as they would become swamped by the heather as it spread.
<div id="attachment_2831" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2831" class="size-medium wp-image-2831" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/118-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/118-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/118-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/118-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/118-510x382.jpg 510w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/118-1080x810.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />mixed planting of pollinator-friendly flowers including chives, lupin, libertia and poppy</div>
Native species will always provide the best food and flower at the most appropriate time for our pollinators and birds alike. Willow (Salix) is the best of them although not suitable for a small garden because of its long root system. If you do have room then our goat, grey and eared willow are great choices for the larger garden and osiers for a small garden as they don’t make trees and are best cut down to near ground level like dogwoods (Cornus) for their attractive colourful stems, do this after flowering and enjoy the winter stems and the birds and bees can enjoy the flowers and catkins.
<div id="attachment_2832" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2832" class="size-medium wp-image-2832" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20191220_085702-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20191220_085702-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20191220_085702-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20191220_085702-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20191220_085702-510x382.jpg 510w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20191220_085702-1080x810.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Corylus avellana &#8216;Contorta&#8217; corkscrew hazel catkins</div>
Birds like the willow warblers and Chiffchaff will welcome the food source of insects and you can enjoy their pretty song and if you’re lucky one of our annual visitors the grasshopper warbler all the way from Africa with its unique grasshopper call!! One of the highlights of my summer.
<div id="attachment_2867" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2867" class="size-medium wp-image-2867" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/149-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/149-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/149-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/149-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/149-1080x1620.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/149.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />Tablescape using edible flowers from Bumblebee Flower Farm</div>

The joys and rewards from wildlife gardening are so much more than hearing a bird sing or a bee buzz, Our mental and physical health benefits too and it’s a wonderful place for our children and grandchildren to connect and cultivate an understanding and appreciation of our natural world.
<div id="attachment_2833" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2833" class="size-medium wp-image-2833" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Top-of-the-garden-2015-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Top-of-the-garden-2015-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Top-of-the-garden-2015-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Top-of-the-garden-2015-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Top-of-the-garden-2015-510x382.jpg 510w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Top-of-the-garden-2015-1080x810.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Top-of-the-garden-2015.jpg 1296w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Hydrangea bed by 2015 Astilbes looking magnificent</div>
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Until next time bee kind
Mags xx

Getting Started!

Provenance, what is it? Why is it important? Does it really matter where things come from, how many miles they have traveled, who and what has been poisoned in the process…Food provenance means knowing the root of where your food has come from and knowing how that food was produced, transported and delivered to you.
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We’ve all seen how this has been distorted by large companies purely for profit that doesn’t stay in the local community. As individuals we do have power and that’s in how we choose to
<div id="attachment_1608" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1608" class="size-medium wp-image-1608" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Autumn_Market-min-300x228.jpg" alt="Seasonal Hand-tied" width="300" height="228" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Autumn_Market-min-300x228.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Autumn_Market-min-768x584.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Autumn_Market-min-1024x778.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Autumn_Market-min-1080x821.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Autumn_Market-min.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Bumblebee Bouquet</div>
spend our Euro, the only way to get big corporations to change how they do business is by not supporting them financially. They are driven purely by profit and if you are reducing that by making ethical shopping choices then they will have to respond by cleaning up their act so to speak.
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Buying locally and seasonally is better for you and certainly better for the planet. Seasonality applies just as much to flowers as it does to food in my opinion.
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I’ve been doing some serious market research lately and was a pleasantly surprised to hear that the provenance of my flowers was top of the list as important to my customers. This is a huge turnaround from when I started growing cut flowers almost 10 years ago, people didn’t care where they came from or how they were grown because they weren’t eating them but what’s the first thing you do when you receive flowers, you stick your nose into them and take a big long sniff, if you compost them you’re contaminating your compost with the residues of chemicals in the commercial growing process.
<div id="attachment_1719" style="width: 365px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1719" class=" wp-image-1719" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Old-WEdding-banner-min-1-300x110.jpg" alt="Summer flowers" width="355" height="130" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Old-WEdding-banner-min-1-300x110.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Old-WEdding-banner-min-1-768x281.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Old-WEdding-banner-min-1-1024x375.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Old-WEdding-banner-min-1-1080x396.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Old-WEdding-banner-min-1.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 355px) 100vw, 355px" />Summer scents &#8216;Lilies&#8217;</div>
This is precisely why we stopped supplementing our crop with imports seven years ago, I struggled to get rid of the contaminated foliage and realized I was part of the problem by supporting an industry that I had such misgivings about regarding their ethics.
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It hasn’t been easy, turning work away at a time of year when you could badly do with income. For several years, being on the breadline so to speak but I have a social and moral obligation to protect the flora and fauna that resides with us as much as trying to provide a safe future for our children. It’s a little scary sometimes when you stand up for something you believe in and hold true to your values, especially when those values can’t pay the mortgage. I’m happy to say I’ve turned it around because you as a consumer are asking about the Provenance of your flowers and for that I’m very grateful.
<div id="attachment_2823" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2823" class="size-medium wp-image-2823" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tortoise-shells-on-scaboisa-300x200.jpg" alt="Summer nectar rich plant Scabiosa" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tortoise-shells-on-scaboisa-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tortoise-shells-on-scaboisa-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tortoise-shells-on-scaboisa-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tortoise-shells-on-scaboisa-1080x720.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Tortoise shell butterflies on Scabiosa</div>
There’s still a bit of ‘I’m alright Jack’ it’s not happening on my doorstep, so it doesn’t affect me, but it does in the long run because we are all connected. We’ve become desensitized to buzz words like ‘Climate Change’ and Global Warming’ and there is a bit of ‘Ostrich Syndrome’ about. We desperately need to take our heads out of the sand and make those ethical choices that will help save our beautiful planet.
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We firmly believe that you can cultivate beauty that has a supportive and positive effect on our environment and that’s why we grow our produce the way we do here at Bumblebee Flower Farm in a magical part of West Cork along the beautiful Wild Atlantic Way.
Let’s all help keep our part of the world beautiful and clean by supporting local producers and communities.
<div id="attachment_2824" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2824" class="size-medium wp-image-2824" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Burnished-Glow-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Burnished-Glow-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Burnished-Glow-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Burnished-Glow-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Burnished-Glow-1080x1621.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Burnished-Glow.jpg 1632w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />Winter seasonal mix</div>
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Provenance, what is it!!!

<img class=" wp-image-2847 aligncenter" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-1-300x201.jpg" alt="" width="419" height="281" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-1-300x201.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-1-768x515.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-1-1024x686.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-1.jpg 1031w" sizes="(max-width: 419px) 100vw, 419px" />
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Any of you that have followed along for the last 10 years or so know how passionate I am about protecting wildlife, especially my beloved bumblebees.
I know there’s a myriad of information out there and sometimes it&#8217;s confusing and generic.
I’m going to share what I do and hope it will help make sense of some things and why you do them.
Firstly there are 21 species of bumblebee in Ireland, 15 true bumblebees and 6 cuckoo bumblebees.
The queens can emerge from hibernation anytime from mid-February to June.
Without bogging you down I’ll concentrate on the 5 early emerging ones for now.
Bombus lucorum (white tailed bumblebee)
<div id="attachment_2840" style="width: 699px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2840" class=" wp-image-2840" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bombus-lucorum-Queen-300x237.jpg" alt="" width="689" height="544" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bombus-lucorum-Queen-300x237.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bombus-lucorum-Queen.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 689px) 100vw, 689px" />Stunning shot of white tailed bumblebee B. lucorum Image from Bumblebee conservation</div>
Bombus terrestris (buff tailed bumblebee)
<div id="attachment_2841" style="width: 444px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2841" class=" wp-image-2841" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/bombus-terrestris.jpg" alt="" width="434" height="373" />Buff tailed bumblebee B terrestris clearly showing buff/ off white tail</div>
Bombus hypenorum ( tree bumblebee) newcomer to the party first observed in Stephen’s Green in 2017
<div id="attachment_2842" style="width: 601px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2842" class=" wp-image-2842" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/bombus-hypnorum-300x239.jpg" alt="" width="591" height="471" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/bombus-hypnorum-300x239.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/bombus-hypnorum-768x613.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/bombus-hypnorum.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 591px) 100vw, 591px" />Tree bumblebee B. hypnorum interesting ginger thorax with white tail barely visible</div>
All these are in the category of white tailed bumblebees
Bombus pratorum ( early bumblebee) one of the smallest and cutest
<div id="attachment_2843" style="width: 531px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2843" class=" wp-image-2843" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bombus-pratorum-1-300x243.jpg" alt="" width="521" height="422" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bombus-pratorum-1-300x243.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bombus-pratorum-1.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 521px) 100vw, 521px" />Early bumblebee B .pratorum</div>
Bombus lapidarius (red tailed bumblebee)
<div id="attachment_2844" style="width: 449px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2844" class=" wp-image-2844" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/bombus-lapidarius.jpg" alt="" width="439" height="374" />red tailed bumblebee b.lapidarius one of my favorite bumblebees</div>
These are in the category of red tailed bumblebees.
 Looking at their tail colour is the first step in identification. That&#8217;s another topic altogether it&#8217;s a veritable minefield!!
All of these are short tongued bumblebees so it&#8217;s no wonder early spring flowers are usually single daisy type flowers like primrose, hellebores and buttercups. Others include gorse, dandelion, winter flowering heather and snowdrops. Trees and shrubs including willow, hazel, viburnum tinus and mahonia.
When the queens emerge first they are pretty hungry and barely have enough strength to fly so her first step is to fill up with nectar from easily accessible flowers like the ones mentioned above.
Bumblebees need a minimum body temperature of 30 degrees to be able to fly, they does this by what&#8217;s called shivering where they can uncouple their wings so the wings don’t move, they then shiver to raise the thorax temperature, this is the middle section of a bee between the head and abdomen, when its up to temperature they can take flight. We&#8217;ve all seen bumblebee queens weak and not moving early in the season and this is the reason why.
It&#8217;s interesting to know how long it takes to reach optimum if she is at 24 degrees then only a few seconds but if she goes down to 13 degrees then it can take her 5 minutes but if it goes down to 6 degrees then it will take up to 15 minutes.
So please leave your dandelions and buttercups. They can be the difference between life and death to her and without her there will be no colony and no bees in the summer.
. After she has fueled up with nectar its straight off to find a reliable source of pollen and this is in abundance in willow especially our native goat Salix caprea and grey salix cinerea. This plumps up her now shriveled ovaries .
 Interestingly willows are either male or female ( there are exceptions as always) and are actually insect pollinated but seed dispersal is by wind. Male flowers supply pollen and nectar but female mainly nectar. This is an incredibly important group not only for insects but as we move up the food chain as a food source for birds which feed on the insects. Biodiversity!
So off they go and start building their nests..
Please do pop back next week and I’ll share my tuppence worth on that stage.
Bee kind
Mags xx

Why we need certain flowers for early emerging Queens!

Do you ever give serious thought to your wedding bouquet!! Next to your beautiful gown it’s the most important accessory, it’s in every photo and after your dress it’s the next thing to be scrutinized by your guests!!
<div id="attachment_2851" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2851" class="size-medium wp-image-2851" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_4572-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_4572-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_4572-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_4572-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_4572-1080x1620.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_4572.jpg 1343w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />Morgan&#8217;s Flowing Waterfall Cascade Bridal Bouquet</div>
Emma Jarvis photography
Most likely you’ll have a theme and an inspiration board. These are a fabulous tool to help you pull everything together and whether you are using a florist or floral designer, either bring it with you or email it to them.
We all have such different ideas of what’s a wildflower, boho, romantic or formal bouquet. Its what you think and want that’s important so for the person creating your bouquet give them something to interpret and work with. The more visuals you have the easier it will be to guide you in the right direction regarding flower choices, colours and the final overall look and feel.
Colour is another thing that’s really personal and while Pan-tone will have colour trends it’s what floats your boat that you should focus on and not be dictated to by fashion that’s so fleeting.
My advice is choose the style and colours that suit your personality and if that’s loud and vibrant then go for it!! It’s your day.

<div id="attachment_2853" style="width: 399px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2853" class=" wp-image-2853" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/AA-169-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="389" height="259" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/AA-169-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/AA-169-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/AA-169-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/AA-169-1080x719.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 389px) 100vw, 389px" />Ashley&#8217;s stunning Seasonal summer bouquet Kate Bean Photography</div>
Pastels and neutrals are timeless and wouldn’t look out of place in most venues. Your dress style and your height are also something to consider. If your dress is fussy or detailed then a simple bouquet wouldn’t be out of place, the taller you are then the longer the bouquet can be, it’s all about dimensions and ratio.
The same applies to the loose ‘unstructured’ look so popular these days, there is symmetry at work here and balance creating a just gathered look takes skill, expertise and an understanding of natural materials and is very difficult to achieve with stiff commercial flowers.

<div id="attachment_2854" style="width: 235px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2854" class="size-medium wp-image-2854" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200109_210627-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200109_210627-225x300.jpg 225w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200109_210627-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200109_210627.jpg 798w" sizes="(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" />Summer pastels Kate Bean Photography</div>
I am pleased to see ethical weddings on the increase, this trend of Eco-conscious sustainable and environmentally friendly nuptials gets my seal of approval. The conscious move away from unsustainable single use waste is so much better for us and especially the planet. Choosing ethical wedding attire has never been easier, Hotels are working hard on being greener, stationery and jewellery as ethical options are all there too.
Being more mindful of your impact on the environment can give opportunities to create something really special and have a positive lasting effect. If you are choosing an ethical florist and plan ahead you could have seed of certain flower varieties saved and presented as wedding favors to be planted in memory of your special day. Take it to another level and choose edible varieties which can be flowering and ready to harvest for your first anniversary dinner, how cool is that!!
<div id="attachment_2855" style="width: 304px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2855" class=" wp-image-2855" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Almost-there-300x200.jpg" alt="Table setting using edible flowers" width="294" height="196" />Table Setting using all edible flowers Inspire Photography</div>

Ethical flowers are life-giving.  They aren’t just flowers they’re the source for the food we eat and this is made possible by pollination, which turns the flower into a seed and continues the cycle of life. They are also the essence of so much of what we use daily from beauty products to medicinal support to food for animals.  And, they are a life-giving source of joy, we need joy to sustain us.
<div id="attachment_2823" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2823" class="size-medium wp-image-2823" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tortoise-shells-on-scaboisa-300x200.jpg" alt="Summer nectar rich plant Scabiosa" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tortoise-shells-on-scaboisa-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tortoise-shells-on-scaboisa-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tortoise-shells-on-scaboisa-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tortoise-shells-on-scaboisa-1080x720.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Tortoise shell butterflies on Scabiosa</div>

Have fun and create some magical memories!!
Bee kind
Mags xx

The positive effects of Seasonal blooms!

February the 14th brings out the romantic in most of us and we do love to mark it with a token of our affection but the sad truth is from an environmental point of view it’s really bad news!
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But there are ways you can celebrate it without it ‘Costing the Earth’ and reduce the environmental impact and create lasting memories with the added bonus of supporting local businesses that care.
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<ol>
<li>Flowers! The number purchase which has the highest negative environmental impact due to the pesticides used in production and the carbon footprint because of the thousands of miles they have to travel to get to you. If you must have roses then please opt for fairtrade ones that at least support and provide local workers with safe, healthy working conditions and limit their pesticide use.</li>
</ol>
Your best option is to source local producers that can offer sustainable grown seasonal flowers. In Ireland that will not be roses.
Alternatively, give a gift voucher for a workshop or flower subscription when there are more local flowers available.
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<ol start="2">
<li>Chocolate! Cocoa only grows in warm climates and travels even further than flowers with the same heavy reliance on toxic pesticide use and is fueling rapid deforestation and loss of habitat.</li>
</ol>
Fairtrade chocolate again supports local people and provides better working conditions. There are some wonderful producers here in Ireland who craft incredible chocolate so there’s no excuse!
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<ol start="3">
<li>Eating out! You can dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of your meal by supporting restaurants that support local producers and ingredients. This is good for all of us because income stays in the locality and keeps people in work.</li>
</ol>
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<ol start="4">
<li>Cards! The deforestation that occurs to provide millions of mass-produced cards that will be consigned to the dustbin in 5 minutes breaks my heart! There are other ways if you must have a card then seek out a locally made one that uses recycled or eco-friendly materials. Most small independent stores and craft shops will have a supply of these and again it’s keeping things in our locality!</li>
</ol>
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<ol start="5">
<li>Jewellery! Positive choices with positive purchases! Antique, vintage pieces are a lovely option. There are some fantastic talented jewellery designers in Ireland that are thoughtful in their design and materials, sourcing their ingredients that adhere to strict working conditions, trade and environmental protocols.</li>
</ol>
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I hope that gives you food for thought and encourages you to think outside the box. There are so many other ways to have a positive Valentine&#8217;s day and help create a future we can all be proud of and leave the planet in a better condition than we found it!
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Happy Valentines Day!!
Bee Kind
Mags xx

5 ways to make your Valentines day more Eco-friendly!

You’ve settled on your date and are making a conscious effort to be more thoughtful about the environmental impact of your wedding. The biggest decision will be your venue including your menu choices. Next step wedding flowers which I’ll give a few tips on sourcing eco-friendly options.
<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1929" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Wild-flower-wedding-bouquet-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Wild-flower-wedding-bouquet-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Wild-flower-wedding-bouquet.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Early Summer bridal bouquet
Its no secret regarding the atrocious negative impact commercial flowers have on our health and the health of our planet from the herbicides, pesticides and fungicides used in their production. Many of them banned in developed countries but still used in developing countries like Brazil, Colombia and South Africa. To the air miles transporting them thousands of miles across the world. If you are choosing a regular florist them do ask for fairtrade flowers at least these will be produced in a more caring environmental manner. Please choose your arrangements carefully and avoid single-use formaldehyde filled floral foam, this product is leaching into our watercourses and contaminating our fish and the water we drink.
<div id="attachment_2310" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2310" class="size-medium wp-image-2310" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Wedding_pg-full-design-min-300x200.jpg" alt="Foam Free arrangement" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Wedding_pg-full-design-min-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Wedding_pg-full-design-min-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Wedding_pg-full-design-min-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Wedding_pg-full-design-min-1080x719.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Wedding_pg-full-design-min.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Foam free spring wedding</div>
If on the other hand, you are choosing a farmer florist, then in West cork alone you have quite a few choices from Ruth Fortune flowers in Glandore and Howehill Farm in Killbrittan who also supply certified edible flowers. If you go across the county you will find many more.
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You have the power to exact change with your buying choices and for the better of the local economy, health and wellbeing of our planet and thus ensuring a positive future.
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Choose seasonal flowers by that I mean flowers that grow naturally in a particular season.
<div id="attachment_2288" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2288" class="size-medium wp-image-2288" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Corsage-min-300x200.jpg" alt="Wrist Corsage" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Corsage-min-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Corsage-min-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Corsage-min-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Corsage-min-1080x721.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Corsage-min.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Eco-friendly wrist corsage</div>
Trends for 2020 and beyond are for more flowing unstructured designs, these are so much easier to create with naturally grown flowers than the straight ridged commercial stems. Naturally grown flowers and herbs will fill your venue with the most wonderful fragrance and leave a lasting memory with your guests.
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Re-gift your flowers so someone else can go on and enjoy them. Donate to a local hospital or nursing home, flowers are uplifting and if they are organically grown there are added health and emotional benefits too, they will keep on giving!
<div id="attachment_1638" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1638" class="size-medium wp-image-1638" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Mixed-Market-style-bouquets-min-300x204.jpg" alt="Autumnal seasonla flowers for weddings" width="300" height="204" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Mixed-Market-style-bouquets-min-300x204.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Mixed-Market-style-bouquets-min-768x521.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Mixed-Market-style-bouquets-min-1024x695.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Mixed-Market-style-bouquets-min-1080x733.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Mixed-Market-style-bouquets-min.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Autumnal mix for wedding flowers</div>
Spring flowers include Scented narcissus, hyacinth, tulips, anemones, ranunculus, calendula, with Iris, sweet William, allium, gyp and antirrhinum and undercover.
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Summer flowers Roses, campanula, foxgloves, dahlia, marigold, feverfew, lavatera, scabious, triteleia, sweet William and alstroemeria with an incredible variety of scented herbs as filers or focals in their own right.
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Autumn flowers Roses, dahlia, asters, chrysanthemums, alstroemeria, sweet William, amaranth, gomphrena, antirrhinum, grasses and rudbeckias.
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This is not an exhaustive list but gives you an idea of the wealth of flowers to choose from and many of these varieties have a full range of colours to choose from.
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We grow a couple of thousand dahlias in wonderful shapes, sizes and colours here on the farm.
<div id="attachment_3028" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3028" class="size-medium wp-image-3028" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/128-300x200.jpg" alt="Sustainably grown irish dahias" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/128-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/128-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/128-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/128-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/128-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/128-1080x720.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Dahlia tunnel early September</div>
With a little thought and planning you can have the florals of your dreams and they ‘won’t have cost the earth’
Let’s all work together for a future we would like to live.
&nbsp;
Mags xx
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Sustainable Wedding Flowers. Working together to save our future!

I’d like to share a little bit about our flower and foliage choices and why they’re important to our wildlife.
Due largely to climate change resulting in warmer winters Bumblebee Queens are coming out of hibernation more frequently and are now being seen regularly during the winter months.
It’s yet to be determined what the long-term implications will be, studies have been carried out but only on farmed bumblebees nothing on our wild bees. There are two schools of thought, a longer active season may facilitate a second or third colony and increase their numbers or on the other hand,
starting a colony too early leaves them vulnerable to extreme weather like we experienced in 2018 and could kill them thus losing anything from 50 to 500 pollinators and no new queens for the following year.
To help them cope with the ever-changing weather patterns it’s critically important to have a year-round supply of available nectar food for them. Because our early emerging bumblebees are all short-tongued, flower structure and quality of nectar are also incredibly important. This is why we have an abundance of suitable flowers so early in the season and some of these we use in our bouquets such as hyacinth, scented narcissus, anemone and early sweet William. Our flowering foliage like winter heather and skimmia is of equal importance as a superb nectar source.
<div id="attachment_3024" style="width: 252px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3024" class="size-full wp-image-3024" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Bumblebee-Gift-of-Life-Bouquet.jpg" alt="Sustainable eco-friendly valentines bouquet" width="242" height="265" />Bumblebee spring &#8216;Gift of Life Bouquet&#8217;</div>
Our foliage choices are governed by our need for windbreaks and nesting sites for our wild birds. Cryptomeria and Cupressus are favoured nesting sites by our smaller wild birds like wrens and blackbirds. We harvest these varieties during the winter months as cut foliage but are off-limits during the nesting seasons as unwittingly human interference can cause nest failure.
While our main focus is on our pollinators to ensure a steady supply of food to support all the stages of their life cycles, we are also mindful of all the animals that live with us and prioritise our work around their needs. From not being to tidy and leaving hollow spent stalks as overwintering sites for ladybirds some hoverflies and solitary bees these in return act as natural pest control as well as pollination.
<div id="attachment_3117" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3117" class="size-medium wp-image-3117" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sunset-at-Bumblebee-Farm-200x300.jpg" alt="supporting wildlife in the garden" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sunset-at-Bumblebee-Farm-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sunset-at-Bumblebee-Farm-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sunset-at-Bumblebee-Farm-768x1154.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sunset-at-Bumblebee-Farm-1022x1536.jpg 1022w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sunset-at-Bumblebee-Farm-1363x2048.jpg 1363w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sunset-at-Bumblebee-Farm-1080x1623.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sunset-at-Bumblebee-Farm-scaled.jpg 1704w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />Dying stems are a wonderful overwintering resource</div>
Our offerings change with the seasons including who and what they support.
Our spring flowers include Hyacinth, anemone, scented narcissus varieties, early sweet william, winter flowering heather, skimmia and pittosporum. Late spring, just in time for mother’s Day, the first of our tulips begin flowering alongside iris, ranunculus, antirrhinum and alstroemeria.
<div id="attachment_2293" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2293" class="size-medium wp-image-2293" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Statement_piece-min-200x300.jpg" alt="Statement Arrangement" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Statement_piece-min-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Statement_piece-min-768x1154.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Statement_piece-min-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Statement_piece-min.jpg 852w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />Late spring statement arrangement</div>
We can’t always guarantee particular flowers, but we can promise to send out the very best of what’s in flowers at any given time during the year.
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Thank you again for supporting our small flower farm and we hope to see you again soon.
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Bee Kind
Mags xx
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The flowers and foliage we use and what they support!

As I’m writing this the sun is shining and it’s a glorious spring day. It says its 8 degrees but it feels like 15 degrees. Hoverflies, bumblebees and a myriad of other flies are revelling in the sunny calm day. For all of us, it’s a welcome respite from what we’ve been used to!
My tips for this month are all centred around emerging queens from bumblebees to hoverflies. The need for different habitats, food and shelter.
The next few weeks are critical to successful colonies being raised and abundance of pollinators from mid-April onwards.
While they have been out and about foraging over the winter months this is the natural time for nest building and the first colonies, we can do so much to help make their lives a little easier no matter what size our garden is. If you’re considering making changes or expanding your planting areas there are few things you could consider such as nesting sites, shelter and food sources for pollen and nectar.
<div id="attachment_2830" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2830" class="size-medium wp-image-2830" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-300x201.jpg" alt="Bumblebee lucorum Queen on Mahonia December 3rd 2019" width="300" height="201" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-300x201.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-768x515.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-1024x686.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730.jpg 1031w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Bumblebee Queen Bombus leucorum feasting on Mahonia December 3rd 2019</div>
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The next few weeks are critical to successful colonies being raised and abundance of pollinators from mid-April onwards.
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Each species has its own needs but if you can incorporate a mix of habitats all the better. These could include raised beds of dry-stone walls with pollinator-friendly plantings like dandelions, primroses, heathers and spring bulbs like Muscari, crocus and species tulips. Doing it this way not only provides shelter but a rich food source also.
<div id="attachment_3151" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3151" class="size-medium wp-image-3151" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Dry-stone-walls-with-mixed-flowering-hedge-300x225.jpg" alt="Food and Shelter" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Dry-stone-walls-with-mixed-flowering-hedge-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Dry-stone-walls-with-mixed-flowering-hedge-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Dry-stone-walls-with-mixed-flowering-hedge-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Dry-stone-walls-with-mixed-flowering-hedge-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Dry-stone-walls-with-mixed-flowering-hedge-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Dry-stone-walls-with-mixed-flowering-hedge-510x382.jpg 510w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Dry-stone-walls-with-mixed-flowering-hedge-1080x810.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Dry stone wall with mixed flowering hedge</div>
Patches of bare ground are necessary for most of our solitary bees, all that is needed is to clear a small patch 10cm by 10cm would be the minimum, but a metre squared would provide homes for many. Position it in a reasonably sunny sheltered area. Allow wild longer grassy patches to suit others that prefer tufted grass to nest in. Most of our wild bees are ground nesters but there are about 10 species that are cavity nesters and will use cavity blocks, decaying wood and thick hollow stems like bramble, bamboo and reed grass.
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Wildflowers are the most important sources of food for our pollinators they have co-evolved to support each other., and flower at a time when they are needed most. Bumblebees have a foraging distance of a kilometre, but solitary bees will only travel a few hundred metres. Therefore, urban gardens are becoming increasingly more important.
<div id="attachment_3149" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3149" class="size-medium wp-image-3149" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/geranium-mix-300x225.jpg" alt="Wildlife friendly planting" width="300" height="225" />Mixed border of pollinator-friendly plants</div>
In the greater countryside creating bee corridors can address the current lack of habitat and diminished food sources. I will devote a post on this subject over the coming weeks.
If you have room, mixed hedges will provide rich food sources and shelter including nesting sites. So many of these foods are edible for humans too, including Dandelion, primrose, daisies, gorse, willow crab-apple and hazel.
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Bumblebee queens which I’m most familiar with are getting ready to start their colonies but need to have a readily available source of nectar and pollen. Nectar as energy and pollen to plump up her ovaries and feed her brood.
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Willow, hazel and Alder are incredible sources of pollen all of which are edible in varying degrees.
<div id="attachment_3158" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3158" class="size-medium wp-image-3158" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Wildlife-friendly-garden-in-early-summer-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Wildlife-friendly-garden-in-early-summer-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Wildlife-friendly-garden-in-early-summer-510x382.jpg 510w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Wildlife-friendly-garden-in-early-summer.jpg 518w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Bumblebee Flower Farm wildlife-friendly garden in summer</div>
As she begins her nest, she will lay eggs and fashion a honey pot for herself just like birds she will brood them and feed herself from her honey pot. As they progress, she will need to forage for pollen to feed them but can’t be away too long as maintaining temperature is vital. Food sources near the nest are critical. Until she successfully rears the first batch, she must do everything. From mid-April, the first female workers emerge, and she will then remain in the nest rearing her young. The viability and strength of the colony are directly related to the quality and distance of the nest. So, patches dotted around are much better than a large single planting scheme but if that’s al you can manage please do it because every little helps!
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Summer containers are another great way of helping our pollinators even if you live in an apartment you can still do your bit. Compact nasturtiums are a great container plant, loved by bees and edible too. Soil grown ones are one of my top superfoods! All parts are edible, seed, leaf, stalk and flower, tastes amazing rich in nutrients and antioxidants. Medicinally they are a great blood cleanser and the leaves will ease a sore throat. The seeds can be pickled as poor man&#8217;s capers and the leaves and flowers make a fantastic pesto too.
<div id="attachment_3155" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3155" class="size-medium wp-image-3155" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/017-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />Nasturtiums</div>
Bacopa and Bidens are popular bedding/hanging basket plants but they are also nectar-rich and would be welcome additions. As late-season flowers, herbs are without a doubt the best candidates. Rosemary early in the season followed by oregano and the mints late in the season. Some of the mints get bitter when the flower but Basil Mint and Grapefruit mint retain their fresh flavour.
<div id="attachment_1629" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1629" class="size-medium wp-image-1629" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Grapefruit-mint-min-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Grapefruit-mint-min-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Grapefruit-mint-min-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Grapefruit-mint-min-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Grapefruit-mint-min-1080x719.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Grapefruit-mint-min.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Grapefruit mint flowers</div>
If you would like to know more and get a peek into our world then we would love to see you at the first of our Open days on the farm on the 29th of March where we will have a talk, tour explaining different habitats, how to make a bug hotel that suits our native species. Including the most suitable situations.
We will also provide you with some pollinator-friendly seeds to take home to start your own bumblebee paradise.
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Eddie Attwell from the Glengarriff Eccles will be on hand with incredible products using produce grown on the farm and foraged locally. Eddie’s knowledge, passion and creativity are unsurpassed in West Cork!
<div id="attachment_2855" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2855" class="size-medium wp-image-2855" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Almost-there-300x200.jpg" alt="Table setting using edible flowers" width="300" height="200" />Incredible food prepared by Eddie using Bumblebee Flower Farm produce</div>
<div id="attachment_3154" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3154" class="size-medium wp-image-3154" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KHB_8545-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KHB_8545-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KHB_8545-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KHB_8545-768x1154.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KHB_8545-1022x1536.jpg 1022w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KHB_8545-1363x2048.jpg 1363w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KHB_8545-1080x1623.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KHB_8545-scaled.jpg 1704w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />Eddie with the Big Green Egg</div>
Eva Milka and Eoin Jenkinson from Gaelic Escargot will also be in joining us, sharing their incredible journey into snail farming. With some interesting insights about their protein-rich product!
<div id="attachment_3156" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3156" class="size-medium wp-image-3156" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/20180607Gaelic-Escargot_123-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />Eva Milka and Eoin Jenkinson of Gaelic Escargot</div>
<img class="size-medium wp-image-3157" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/GaelicEscargot-046-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/GaelicEscargot-046-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/GaelicEscargot-046-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/GaelicEscargot-046-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/GaelicEscargot-046-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/GaelicEscargot-046-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/GaelicEscargot-046-1080x720.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Looking forward to meeting you all.
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Bee Kind
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Mags xx
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